The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-02

Gen. Geo. A. Sheridsn Replies to Colonel
Ingersoll-A Brilliant Address.

Gen. Geo. A. Sheridsn Replies to Colonel
Ingersoli-A Brilliant Address.
Report IN National Republican.
General Sheridan opened with beautiful
tribute to the personal character OF Colonel
IDgersoll, who, he said, "a good usband,
kind father. stauneh friend, a loyal citizen,
brilliant lawyer and wonderful orator,
charming by the splendor OF his rhetoric and
the beauty of his imagination" but who, when
he approaches the subject of religion drops
''the mantle of his genial personality" and 'be-
comes the loudest of boosters and the most alb
ject of intellectual towards"
After thus compiimenting Colonel 1ngersoll,
General Sheridan says the only weapons be
against Christianity are sneers ribald
jests, uninst6abie assertions, bold misstare-
ments, and utter disregard of facts united to a
jects he attempts to discuss" The story is
then told of Ingersolls controversy with Judge
Jere Black. and the letter OF the latter read to
show how the controversy closed.
General Sheridan said he did not propose to
enter into philosophical defense of Christianity,
but simply to examine Colonel Ingersolls
methods of discussing religions Subjects" be-
cause his teachings calculated to lower the
standard of manhood. destroy just sense of
response bilIties to each other, rob life OF its
grandeur and dignity, and transform death in TO
a horror from which the soul starts back aghast
and trembling
General Sheridan then quotes from Iugersoll
what the latter SAYS he wants to accomplish by
the statement, shows that none of the evils
which the Colonel asserts he wants to remedy
exist except in his 'lurid imagination" and that
his gorgeous word painting is simply
Told by an idiot full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing.
One of the hardest and most cruel blows
struck the great pagan Is by a quotation from
one of his printed lectures IN which ne said: Il
thank thee, mother nature, that thou hast inn
pla tad jpCaDuty N the brain of a child
when attacked by brutal parent to throw up a
little breastwork for its protection IN the shape
of lie"
In speaking of the fact that this country was
founded and built up by Christians. General
Sheridan drew a most beautiful and realistic
picture os the voyage of the May flower
In answer to the statement that Ben Franklin
infdel, that grand prayer of his was
quoted .tMerciful Cod. wonderful power. in
crease in me that wisdom which discovers my
truesJ interests; strengthen my resolution to
perform what that wisdom dictates, and accept
nv kind Offices to Thy other creatures as the
only return IN my power tor all my minute
goodness to me-"
Speaking of the growth of this country and its
institutions, of which Ineersoll is one of the
benefciaries, General Sheridan said: THE his
tory of America is simply grand poem sound
ing in immortal numbers the praises of Christi
anity. The country was discovered by Chris
tans. settled by Christians; Christians declared
its Independence, fought the battle which estab-
lished it, formed the institutions under which
we i've destroyed human slavery In our bor-
ders, established our schools. universities and
hospitals"
General Sheridan thinks Colonel Ingersoll
wants TO know too much; is chagrined that be
has not ability to comprehend the universe-that
is, because a pint measure won't hold quart
and very mad because God does not take him
into full partnership in managing it. and In this
connection he mentions number OF things
which Colonel Ingersoll believes in but does not
nd ha rofn n in TaG
for that reason.
Among other things. the General says: 'He
does not understand the affinity OF soul for soul,
yet the stars look down upon fair maidens listen
ing the voice of eager youth as 1t whispers the
old. old story that has frightened all the ages
and millions Of homes in our great land to-nigh,
are JOYOUS with the songs or those whose souls
are held close together with the same invisible
cords that since the birth of time have beer
woven in the womb of love-" which is sentence
and sentiment as beautiful any woven by
the great pagan.
General Sheridan then speaks of the ac-
knowledeed ignorance of this modern pagan as
to God. and quotes very appropriately some o.
the questions asked Job:
what do thine eyes wink at that thou turnes
thy spirit against God and lettest such words e
of thy ssour.!"
SHOULD He reason with unprofitahle talk Of
with speeches wherewith He do no gooda"
'Art thou the first man that was born or was
thou made before the hlls?'
Should wise man utter vain knowledge an(
fill his belly with the east winG2"
The appropriateness of this question was rscog
nized by the audience with a burst of applause
The General then shows that there is DANCE
of Colonel IncerSolPs opinions affecting the cur
| rent Of Christian thought, because he ackuowl
| edges 1ruly that he knows nothing OF the sub
| ject which he attempts to discuss. and argu
| ments ~ from such q source never convince an,
| one.
| Ingersoll tries to destroy the ed1fce of Chris
| HqnnnncIpp ac n n n W. in, n.
| offers nothing In its place. The Christian doe
| not pretend Ito comprehend God In his fullness,
| but, though che cannot grasp ALL" he does no
| refuse for that reason ito believe anything" Mr.
! Ingersoll does.
| But, though Ingersoll denies the existence o
| God, when pressed home this question W
| find he has created one. little tin god of hi
own. He says. Mature is Gcd" and then hav
| ing created he defines most horrible God TO
| himself, and asks Christians to dethrone thei
| benefcent Creator and enthrone this monster O
| his creation.
General Sheridan then takes up Colonel Inge1
! soils attack upon the Bible, and makes a NOS
| splendid defense of s'the book of books the mas
| terpiece of all ages" of which Colonel Ingerso
says: That book have taken pains to say wa
| not written by any god. And why do say sc
| Because l write far better book myself.
| Upon this assertion General Sheridan excoriate
the modern pagan without mercy. Next the il
ability of Colonel lnge.soll because of his enoI
ance, is shown, and then the fact that philosophy
science, oratory. genius, learning in all age
have acknowledged God, and that Colonel Inge,
soil is simply ''full of vanity, pulled up with
ceit, and consumed with admiration of his ow
ability" when he attacks God, the Bible and th
| church.
Colonel Ingersoll is then shown to be an s:ir
telectual and moral Anarchist" who proposes
destroy all that is valuable in life and gives L
nothing in it's place.
The close of the lecture is grand display
oratorical power never surpassed by Colonel II
gersoll in his best efforts. The lecture is no du
sermon, but magnificent defense of Chrl
tianity, the thoughts and ideas woven into
wool of beautiful words and sentences deivere
with all the brilliancy of shower of meteors.